Two charged in Whitpain Tavern robbery

WHITPAIN — After nearly two weeks, two men have been charged in the Nov. 4 robbery of the Whitpain Tavern.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman and Whitpain Township Police Chief Mark A. Smith announced Saturday that Tyrice E. “Reek” Griffin was arrested and charged with eight counts of robbery, according to a press release from the Whitpain Township Police Department.

Griffin was taken into custody by members of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s BNI Impact Unit. His alleged accomplice in the robbery, Juan Carlos Garcia, is already incarcerated at Luzerne County Prison on unrelated narcotics charges, according to the release.

A warrant was issued for both men Nov. 15.

Officers were dispatched to an armed robbery at Whitpain Tavern around 1:30 a.m. Nov. 4 in response to a panic alarm, according to Whitpain police, and found a safe had been stolen from the tavern along with cash, jewelry and cellular phones belonging to patrons and employees.

The robbers, who were wearing dark clothing and ski masks, also stole a red Ford Mustang owned by one of the patrons, police said.

Police pursued the Mustang on DeKalb Pike, with the chase ending at Montgomery County Community College, where the stolen car was found unoccupied in a ditch on the school’s campus, according to police. The safe was not recovered.

According to the release, police now believe the robbers split up just after fleeing the tavern. The Ford Mustang was used to drive to an unknown location, where the safe was transported to a Mazda 626, at which point Garcia drove the Mazda to North Wales undetected.

Garcia waited in the Mazda in North Wales until he was picked up by two individuals who are reportedly from Hazleton, Pa., and together the three men picked up Griffin, who had fled to Philadelphia, according to police. The four men then drove to Hazleton, the press release stated.

The Mazda was retrieved in North Wales later in the day Nov. 4, according to police.

Griffin and Garcia were both charged with eight counts of robbery and related offenses. Each count is punishable by a maximum 10 to 20 years in prison. Moreover, Griffin faces penalties as a third-strike offender; if convicted, he could face a maximum of life in prison.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney M. Stewart Ryan.